Dear Rabbi Simon,
Why is it that even though G-d guides us on the right path, his presence is not evident to us?
Many thanks,
Raphaela
Dear Raphaela,
Thank you for your question, which has engaged religious philosophers and thinkers since time immemorial.
In order for man to have free will in any meaningful sense, G-d’s presence must remain obscured. If we could readily and incontrovertibly perceive G-d in our daily lives, the challenge of moral choices would all but disappear. It is only through G-d’s hiddenness—and the lifelong process of striving for a relationship with G-d—that man is worthy of divine favour and indeed reward, whether in this World or the Next.
In other words, if G-d’s involvement in human affairs was obvious to everyone, religious achievement would be drained of all meaning. The human being would be little more than a robot, programmed to do G-d’s will at every moment. Spirituality itself would become devoid of meaning.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes
With Torah blessings
Rabbi Rashi Simon